Well he is leaving a sinking ship, so I think he has a better shot now.

The Avs and Kings both have no shot. He should have signed with either of the better two California teams. Put Blake on the Sharks or Ducks and you have a Stanley Cup favorite. Put him on the Kings and you might make the playoffs for the first time in 5 years.

Blake: "It's a business, unfortunately. But I just want to say the Avalanche is the best organization in hockey, by far. Everybody, from the top person on down was just first class." (Post file)

Tyler Arnason's days with the Avalanche are just beginning. Rob Blake's, however, are over.

On a Saturday in which the Avs signed the free-agent center Arnason to a one-year, $950,000 contract, the bigger news centered around the breaking off of contract talks between the team and star defenseman Blake.

Later in the day, Blake returned to his former team, the Los Angeles Kings, signing a two-year, $12 million contract.

Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said that, despite his best efforts, he was not able to reach an agreement with Blake, 36, clearing the way for him to sign with another NHL team as an unrestricted free agent.

"We wanted to keep him and we tried to keep him, but in the end it didn't work out. He has to do what is right for him and his family, and we wish him the best," Giguere said.

Giguere met with Blake last week and said he offered him a package of one- and two-year deals to stay with the Avalanche, but Blake rejected them.

Ironically, the Avs could not afford to keep Blake partly because of the money they are paying him as he exits the team. Under terms of his previous contract, Blake is due a $2.3 million bonus payment for next season - all counting against the Avs' salary cap of $44 million.

Blake said, "(The bonus) kind of screwed things up with me coming back. It is ironic. Not only that, but they declined the option years on us because of last year's cap. It's a business, unfortunately. But I just want to say the Avalanche is the best organization in hockey, by far. Everybody, from the top person on down was just first class. I learned so much there, and I hope to carry it on back here in L.A."

Giguere is aware that Blake's departure will be seen as a major blow to the Avs by fans and pundits, and that the bonus payments to Blake and captain Joe Sakic (also for $2.3 million) might be seen as a gaffe by the organization.

But Giguere defended the situation surrounding both issues.

"I knew that I probably wouldn't be able to keep one of the three unrestricted defensemen we had. We signed two of them (Karlis Skrastins and Brett Clark), but I knew it might be tough with Rob," Giguere said. "That's why we made a deal to obtain a top-four defenseman last week (Jordan Leopold from Calgary). You hate to lose a player of Rob's ability, but we're

going forward with a player (Leopold) 11 years younger (than Blake), with a lot of offensive upside. Right now, we have five defensemen signed who we like and still have John Liles to sign. I feel good about our defense right now. It's younger and we had lots of production last season from guys we still have."
About the bonus payment situations, Giguere said, "It was a very good contract at the time with both of them, and the Colorado Avalanche received great things from them. To sign both players to five-year contracts was something great for the team. The salary cap changed things, but a lot of teams lost some very good players (Saturday), not just us."

Giguere said the Avs will not buy out the contracts of currently signed players, including Pierre Turgeon, Patrice Brisebois or Brad May. Part of the reason, Giguere said, is because any player who is 35 or older when his contract is bought out has his full salary count against the salary cap. Turgeon and Brisebois are older than 35, and May will be 35 in November.

In Arnason, 27, the Avs get a center who has shown flashes of potential stardom but has yet to fulfill his potential. He was acquired by Ottawa from Chicago at the trade deadline last season, but performed poorly for the Senators and was not given a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. He is eligible to become unrestricted after next season, too.

"When I talked to Tyler, one area he felt he needed improvement was his conditioning, and he is working with a personal trainer now," Giguere said. "He's got a lot of offensive talent, and I think he'll be a top-six forward for us. The fact that he can be unrestricted next year I think plays into our advantage, because I think he'll have extra motivation."

Maybe Luc should stick around to reform the Kings team that had some glory. You pick on a team that did make the playoffs over your Kings team. Kings better improve from 2005 and 06. As for the Ducks, resigning Selanne is just one piece to complete a more dominating year in06 - 07. I have Ducks at least in 2nd in division (SJ might take #1).

Giguere said the Avs will not buy out the contracts of currently signed players, including Pierre Turgeon, Patrice Brisebois or Brad May. Part of the reason, Giguere said, is because any player who is 35 or older when his contract is bought out has his full salary count against the salary cap. Turgeon and Brisebois are older than 35, and May will be 35 in November.

Again, why in the bloody **** did they give these useless fossils 2 year deals when guys under the age of 30 only get 1?

Maybe Luc should stick around to reform the Kings team that had some glory. You pick on a team that did make the playoffs over your Kings team. Kings better improve from 2005 and 06. As for the Ducks, resigning Selanne is just one piece to complete a more dominating year in06 - 07. I have Ducks at least in 2nd in division (SJ might take #1).

Actually Im hoping Jari Kurri and Gretz come back.

Hey dont worry about Selanne, you have more important things to worry about like what colors should be on your new jersey's.

Denver's had an NHL team for 15 years; you're 21 -- so you became a Kings fan at age 6. Mighty impressive. Did you enjoy that Cup Finals run at age 8?

I was born a kings fan, I think at three my dad took me to a Kings game.

Regarding the cup run....Yes I did, obviously it didnt end the way I wanted it to, but man that series against the leafs is one i wont forget. I still think Pat Burns is a prick after that feud with Barry.

And I thought the Avs were in bad shape with the cap. The Devils, especially after re-signing Elias, are in a tough spot. They've got $7 million in dead money on their cap this season for two guys who won't be playing for them (Mogilny, Malakhov) and according to this, they've currently got $38.98 million already committed with 9 roster spots left to fill.

Hey Ive been a Kings fan for longer than Denver has had an NHL team. Suffered alot but it will worth it someday....soon i hope!

I guess you are referring to the current NHL Team. What is this weird compulsion of hockey fans in regards to longevity?

I don't think I ever see anyone looking down their noses at fans of expansion football teams. I mean, how dare those Seahawk fans cheer at a Super Bowl. They don't have history and shouldn't be considered as legitimate fans.

And I thought the Avs were in bad shape with the cap. The Devils, especially after re-signing Elias, are in a tough spot. They've got $7 million in dead money on their cap this season for two guys who won't be playing for them (Mogilny, Malakhov) and according to this, they've currently got $38.98 million already committed with 9 roster spots left to fill.

I guess things are tough all over.

Buttman must be ecstatic! His plan to dismantle the winning franchises and make the entire league mediocre is coming to fruition ahead of schedule.

We couldda signed Jon Klemm last week for old times sake and for blue-line depth. This is one young team now, I hope Wolski or Svatos can become some kind of leader.

Leopold is a young stud, no doubt, but does anybody have a thumbnail on this Arnason?

Those young players are at this point the only reason to look forward to next season. Hopefully they can continue to grow, and the following year we can get them some respectable linemates to go along with Sakic and Hejduk. Brisbois, Turgeon, and May for another year? Oh joy.

Hey dont worry about Selanne, you have more important things to worry about like what colors should be on your new jersey's.

If that is our only problem, then we are very set. The youngins will be a year more mature and Andy McDonald on the team next year, I see a very good future. Good luck with Kurri and Gretz. Felix the Cat should be available also.

Just so you Avalanche fans know, Leopold is a great player. I mean...he's on the verge of being an all-star. If you watch him play....he's a fantastic offensive talent, and he's no slouch hitting. You'll like him...Maybe not as much as you liked Blake, but let's be honest here....the guy is 36. Not that many years left in the tank anyways.